Well, it’s almost the 20-game mark, which is about when I think you should evaluate teams with as many new guys as this one does, and contemplate change.

And by that I don’t mean major trades (they don’t generally happen this early in the season) and I don’t mean anything crazily drastic in other areas of the game.

But tweaks, to starting lineups, rotations and the like.

As you read this morning in these parts, there is no desire to make changes coming from the coach, even where the rookie is concerned (and he’d be one place people would look). Jay said:

“Obviously, you could take a guy like DeMar and say, ‘yeah the rook’s screwing up for us’ but he’s not. His coverages are as sound as everybody else.”

That being damning with faint praise, it doesn’t seem to be a move the coach wants to make.
So, what else?

Well, this runs counter to the prevailing opinion out there but do you really, in your heart of hearts, think Jarrett Jack would be a more consistent and capable starter than Jose? Really? Jose has his flaws and hasn’t played well for long spurts, no question about it, but I’m not sure the other way is any better.

So, what do you do then?

Start both Jack and Calderon at the two and one and try to juggle point guard minutes? That’s too much juggling.

Start Antoine Wright at the two? Yeah, right. He’s giving them nothing at either end.

Start Marco? And take away the energy from the second unit backcourt? Don’t think so.

How about this:

Do you take a gamble and start Amir Johnson for Bargnani, knowing full well Johnson’s likely to get two fouls in three minutes and Bargnani would be back in there? It gives you a dose of energy and rebounding in the starting five, that’s for sure. Bargnani has never, ever, warmed to the idea of coming off the bench and he certainly hasn’t been the worst of the Raptors offenders this year.

yeah just read this on the site and i really feel that we should take that gamble for 2 or 3 games just to see how it works, and it will be the right time to try it because were playing washington next game..

As bad as he's played, Wright should start at the 2 and Derozan/Weems play behind Turkoglu. Maybe lower Bargnani's minutes and play Rasho/Johnson more. And less Jose/Jack combo!!!

I agree with everything except the wright one, because i like demar's game currently he is way better than wright on offence and same on D, maybe even better because of signaficant blocks demar has made

I didn't think i'd entertain the idea of demoting Jose, but hell, he hasn't done much to warrant a spot in the starting lineup of late.

DeRozan should have never started at this level from the get go.

I honestly think it doesn't matter who starts at PG, since they both essentially play the same amount of minutes. And Jay seems very stubborn when it comes to playing Jose/JJ together and also when it comes to starting Derozan.

I also think starting amir is a good idea - Bargnani could easily average 22+ points as a super sub, like manu ginobili. I'm not convinced amir will make any difference on D, when he plays we're just as bad on D, only when Jose is out there's some improvement in that area.

But at least offensively, our 2nd unit will prosper and we could extract more value of the bosh-bargnani combo. The only downside is andrea's confidence -many players tend to play worse when moved to the bench.

And don't forget that all the media and many fans will choose to see a move like that as a demotion. I can see hollinger glowing on espn the next day.

if jay simply stopped playing jose and jack together, we wouldn't be awash in all this doom-and-gloom/blow-it-up/trade-this-and-that/blow-it-up-'ness. its a failure, and that's what we run in crunch time—that's nuts.

and/or if jay could stop being out-coached after halftime, we'd be leagues better.

You guys are crazy if you think the starting lineup is going to change...........the dudes making all the scratch are the one's that are going to get the majority of minutes and the starts. You think BC is really gonna let Triano sit Bosh , Andre , Hedo and Jose when they are the guys getting most of the bucks? Don't kid yourself. IMO I would love them to start Amir, sit Bargs and have Jack and Andre coming in for Bosh and Jose and rarely have those guys on the floor at the same time..

You guys are crazy if you think the starting lineup is going to change...........the dudes making all the scratch are the one's that are going to get the majority of minutes and the starts. You think BC is really gonna let Triano sit Bosh , Andre , Hedo and Jose when they are the guys getting most of the bucks? Don't kid yourself. IMO I would love them to start Amir, sit Bargs and have Jack and Andre coming in for Bosh and Jose and rarely have those guys on the floor at the same time..

Me too but, AB has the big contract now & will it hurt his confidence to put him on the bench?

There has to be a trade in the works soon...The 3 big guys are not playing well together...

AB doesn't play well with Bosh & Jose just isn't playing well at all...